Machine for applying labels to containers



May 3, 1949.

T. L. COOK MACHINE FOR APPLYING LABELS T0 CONTAINERS Filed Dec. 12, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet l mmvrozc THOMAS L. COOK 35 LA wet ATTO NEYS May 3, 1949. T. L. cooK 2,468,922

MACHINE FOR APPLYING LABE LS TO CONTAINERS Filed Dec. 12, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 '1 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 1/ II 1/ 11/ I INVENTOR. 1(3 2 I THOMAS .COOK

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AT-TOR N EYS May 3, 1949. T. L. cooK 2,468,922

MACHINE FOR APPLYING LABELS TO CONTAINERS Filed Dec. 12, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. THOMAS L. COOK ATTORNEYS 1 Patented May 3,1949

MACHINE FOR APPLYING LABELS TO CONTAINERS 4 Thomas L. Cook, San Francisco, Calif.

Application December 12, 1944, Serial No. 567,797

15 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in a machine for applying labels to containers,

and it consists of the combinations, constructions and arrangements hereinafter described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a machine for applying labels to containers, in which novel means applies an adhesive to an area of a container which is to receive a label. In the usual labeling machines, the label is long enough to encircle the entire container. In my invention the label may be of less area than the container circumference and the machine will apply the adhesive to the container so that the adhesive will cover substantially the same area that receives the label. In this way the entire area of the label is secured to the container by the adhesive and the label will not tear off.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described wherein novel means is used for feeding the required amount of adhesive to the container and for causing the adhesive to take the same shape and size on the container as the shape and size of the label to be applied.

A further object of my invention is to provide a label feeding means which will feed one label at a time to the container and apply the label to the container portion that has received the layer of adhesive. It is possible to date the label so that the contents of the container can be dated as the container moves through the machine.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the device will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through the machine, portions being shown in elevation;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the machine taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 .is a horizontal section taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of a modified form of the invention, portions being shown in elevation; and

Figure 5 is a plan view of a part of Figure 4 showing the dating stamp and is taken along the line 55 of Figure 4.

While I have-shown only the preferred form of my invention, it should be understood that various changes or modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims without 2 departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

In carrying out my invention I provide a frame indicated generally at A in Figure 1 and this frame supports a platform I over which containers, such as cans 2 roll. Anendless drive belt 3 keeps the containers in contact with the platform I and rolls them along the platform as shown. In practice the belt 3 will in reality be two spaced belts that contact with the ends of the containers.

The platform I feeds the containers to an adhesive applying mechanism indicated generally at B. The mechanism B comprises a vertical cylinder 4 that has a flared top 5 and contains an adhesive 6 such as glue. A piston I moves up through the cylinder 4 and forces the adhesive into the outwardly flared top 5. A piston rod 8 slides in the frame A and is moved upwardly by a mechanism presently to be described. The cylinder 4 is supported by the frame A.

The flared top 5 removably receives a plate 9 over which the containers 2 roll. Figure 2 shows the plate 9 as having an opening I0 through which the adhesive is forced. The opening may be of any size and shape desired and is shown as rectangular in Figure 2. The opening is covered by a silk screen II and Figure 1 shows the silk screen secured to the underside of the plate 9 by a bracket I2. Screws I3 or other suitable fastening means secures the plate to the flared top 5 and the screws are received in lugs I4. When it is desired to change the size or shape of the opening II), a different plate 9 is secured to the flared top, this plate having the opening desired.

Referring again to Figure 1 it will be noted that an actuating rod I5 has its top bar It projecting above the platform I and lying in the path of the containers 2. A coil spring II urges the rod into its uppermost position shown in Figure 1. A collar I8 mounted on the rod I5 limits the upward movement of the rod. A pawl I9 is pivoted to the rod at 29 and may be adjusted on the rod by a nut 2|. A spring 22 urges the pawl into engagement with the teeth of a ratchet wheel 23 that has a shaft 24 rotatably mounted in the frame A. The shaft 24 carries a pinion 25 that meshes with a vertical movable rack 26. The rack in turn is secured to a cross head 21 by a cap-screw 28' or other suitable fastening means. The piston rod 8 is connected to the cross head.

, The teeth are so arranged on the ratchet wheel 23 that each time the escapement rod I5 is depressed by a can 2, the piston 'I is raised a distance sufllcient to force a quantity of adhesive hesive 29 of the same shape and size as the opening It) will be applied to the container 2.

After the layer of adhesive has been applied to the container it is rolled onto a label-applying device indicated generally at C. The frame A is ,made adjustable at Al so that a label carrying magazine 29 may be adjusted toward and away from the adhesive applying device B. The distance between the cylinder 4 and the magazine 29 is such that the container will make one complete revolution from the time it leaves the opening ill in the plate 9 until it reaches the stack of labels 30. In Figure l a container 2 is shown receiving a layer of adhesive 29 at the position K. At the position Y the container 2 has made approximately one half a revolution so that the layer of adhesive 29 is now at the top of the container. When the container reaches the position Z, the adhesive layer 29 will be brought into registration with the top label 30 and will remove this label from the stack as indicated.

In practice, the area covered by the glue layer is of less size than the area covered by the label and this will permit the adhesive to spread slightly when the label is applied and still'the adhesive will not spread beyond the edges of the label. In Figure 1 I show the weight of the container exerting suilicient pressure to cause the label to adhere to the adhesive layer. In Figure 4 the container is positively held down against the uppermost label in the stack of labels by the overhead conveyor belt and this structure will be described more fully hereinafter.

The novel means for feeding the adhesive to the silk screen III as it is needed is also utilized 4 and lifts it stepwise so that one label will be brought into registration with the adhesive layer on the container each time the container passes over the label-applying device.

In Figure 4 I show a slightly modified form of the invention. Here the conveyor belt 39 extends over both the adhesive applying means B and the label-applying device C. The conveyor also comprises two narrow belts passed around pulleys 49 and the belts engage with the ends of the containers 2. In actual practice the portions of the belts contacting with the container ends will be inclined at angles of 45 and face toward each other so that the belts will not only keep for bringing one label at a time into registration with the platform 3| of the label-applying device C. The cross head 21 carries a second piston rod 32 and the rod moves the piston 33 upwardly in the magazine 29 a slight distance each time a container 2 trips the bar I6. In this way the machine is automatic in operation in applying labels to the containers.

I provide guide means for the cross head 21 and this consists of guide rods 34, see Figure 1, that slide in guide supports 35. The supports and the guide rods hold the cross head 21 in proper position as it is advanced by the ratchet wheel 23. If desired heat may be applied to the piston l to keep the adhesive 9 in the cylinder 4 at the proper temperature. Any type of heat may be used and I have indicated a resistance wire 39 connected to a source of current 31 which may be in the piston as shown or exterior thereof. An adjustable contact 39 determines the degree of heat applied to the adhesive. In actual practice, the wires conveying the current to the resistance 36 will pass through the center of the piston rod 8 and to a source of current.

The plan view of the device shown in Figure 2 illustrates one of the containers 2 about to move over the silk screen II and to receive a layer of adhesive 29. The label-applying device C is indicated as being adjustable toward and away from the plate 9. The adjustable portion of the frame is shown at Al in Figure 3. Figure 2 also shows the label magazine 29 housing the stack of labels 30 and the piston 33 supports the stack the containers down upon the supporting surfaces but will keep them-in proper alignment as they are moved over the various surfaces.

The containers roll down an incline 4| onto a platform 42 and under the two parallel belts 39 that are spaced from each other. The belts roll the containers onto the plate 9 and cause the containers to trip the bar l9 before the containers reach theplate.. The bar I3 actuates the adhesive-applying mechanism so that a layer of adhesive 29 is applied to the container 2 as the container rolls over the opening II. If desired, a screen 43 may close the opening rather than the silk screen ll. -Where a silk screen is used portions may be'painted out so that the adhesive will be forced through only certain portions of thesilk screen area. The adhesive layer 29 on the container 2 will not contact with the parallel belts 39 but will pass therebetween as clearly shown in Figure 4. The layer of adhesive 29 will pick up a label 30 when the container reaches the label-applying device 0. The labels rest upon the piston 33 and the piston is actuated by a separate trip 44 and a separate lifting mechanism similar to the ratchet wheel 23, gear 25 and rack 26. The trip 44 can cause the mechanism (not shown) to lift the piston 33 through different heights, the amount of lift depending upon the thickness of the label 39. In other words, the piston 33 in Figure 4, may be lifted at a different speed from that of the piston 1.

After the container receives the label it passes over a dating stamp, indicated generally at 45. The stamp can be a stencil placed in an opening overlying a reservoir of ink. The ink can be fed to the stencil by a piston and a mechanism which is identical to that shown in the adhesiveapplying mechanism 13.

I claim:

.1. A device of the type described comprising a platform for supporting-containers, container feeding means for rolling cylindrical containers over the platform, adhesive applying means lying in the path taken by the containers, said adhesive applying means having an applicator for applying a layer of adhesive to the container of the same size and shape as the label to be applied, and means for applying a label to the container over the layer of adhesive, whereby the adhesive will cover all portions of the label and cause it to adhere to the container, and means for feeding adhesive to the applicator and labels to the containers during the operation of the machine, said last named means being actuated by the containers as they move along the platform.

2. The herein described method of applying labels to containers which comprises continuously rotating the containers while applying a layer of adhesive to each container of the same size and shape as the label and of less area than the conapaa-aaz tainer circumference, and then applying a label to the container over the layer of adhesive.

3. A device of the type described comprising a platform, means for rolling containers over the platform, adhesive applying means including an applicator having a discharge opening therein 01' the size and shape of the label to be applied to the container, said applicator having its discharge opening lying in the path taken by the rolling containers, said adhesive applying means including means for feeding adhesive to the aplicator each time a container is about to roll over the applicator, a magazine for labels, and

means-for applying one label to each container at the place where the adhesive is applied to the container.

4. In a device of the type described, a platform over which containers roll, an adhesive applicator lying in the path taken by the rolling containers and applying a layer of adhesive to each container of the proper size and shape 'as the container moves thereover and of less area than the circumference of the container, and a stack of labels positioned so that the uppermost label will lie in the path of the rolling container, said labels being spaced from the applicator a distance suflicient to cause the container to make one complete revolution from the applicator to the label so that the layer of adhesive on the container will register with the label and cause .the label to adhere to the container, and means for adjusting the stack of labels with respect to the applicator so that they will be in proper place.

5. In a device of the type described, a platform, means for rolling containers over the platform, means positioned in the path of the containers for applying a layer of adhesive and including an applicator of the shape and size of the label to be applied, said adhesive applying means having a reservoir for the adhesive, the applicator receiving its adhesive from the reservoir, means for delivering a predetermined quantity of adhesive to the applicator which is sufllcient for applying a layer of adhesive to the container, and means actuated by the containers rolling thereover for actuating the adhesive delivery means.

6. In a device of the type described, a platform, means for rolling containers over the platform, means positioned in the path of the containers for applying a layer of adhesive and including an applicator of the shape and size of the label to be applied, said adhesive applying means having a reservoir for the adhesive, the applicator receiving its adhesive from the reservoir, means for delivering a predetermined quantity of adhesive to the applicator which is sufficient for applying a layer of adhesive to the container, and

means actuated by the containers rolling thereover for actuating the adhesive delivery means, means for successively positioning one label at a time in the path of the rolling containers at a distance from the applicator where the container will make one complete revolution in rolling from the applicator to the label; whereby the adhesive layer on the container will pick up the label and cause it to adhere to the container.

7. In a device of the type described, a platform, means for rolling containers over the platform, means positioned in the path of the containers for applying a layer of adhesive and including an applicator of the shape and size of the label to be applied, said adhesive applying means having a reservoir for the adhesive, the applicator receiving its adhesive from the reservoir, means for delivering a predetermined quantity of adhesive to the applicator which is suflicient for applying a layer of adhesive to the container, and means actuated by the containers rolling thereover for actuating the adhesive delivery means, means for successively positioning one label at a time in the path of the rolling containers at a distance from the applicator where the container will make one complete revolution in rolling from the applicator to the label; whereby the adhesive layer on the container will pick up the label and cause it to adhere to the container, said label positioning means being controlled by the container actuated means.

8. In a device of the type described, a platform, means for rolling containers over the platform, means positioned in the path of the containers for applying a layer of adhesive and including an applicator of the shape and size of the label to be applied, said adhesive applying means having a reservoir for the adhesive, the applicator receiving its adhesivefrom the reservoir, means for delivering a predetermined quantity of adhesive to the applicator which is suillcient for applying a layer of adhesive to the. container, and means actuated by the containers rolling thereover for actuating the adhesive delivery means, 'means for successively positioning one label at a time in the path of the rolling con? tainers at a distance from the applicator where the container will make one complete revolution in rolling from the applicator to the label; where. by the adhesive layer on the container will pick up the-label and cause it to adhere to the container, and means for applying a date to the la e1.-

9. In a device of the type described, a platform, means for rolling containers over the platform; means positioned in the path of the containers for applying a layer of adhesive and including an applicator of the shape and size of the label to be applied, said adhesive applying means having a reservoir for the adhesive, the applicator receiving its adhesive from the reservoir, means for delivering a predetermined quantity of adhesive to the applicator which is suflicient for applying a layer of adhesive to the container, and means actuated by thecontainers rolling thereover for actuating the adhesive delivery means, means for successively positioning one label at a time in the path of the rolling containers at a distance from the applicator where the container will make one complete revolution in rolling from the applicator to the label; whereby the adhesive layer on the container will pick up the label and cause it to adhere to the container, and a separate container actuated means for actuating said label positioning means each time a container moves from the applicator to the label positioning means.

10. In a device of the type described, a platform, means for rolling containers over the platform, means positioned in the path of the containers for applying a layer of adhesive and including an applicator, said adhesive applying means hazing a reservoir for the adhesive, the applicator receiving its adhesive from the reservoir, means for delivering a predetermined quantity of adhesive to the applicator which is sumcient for applying a layer of adhesive to the container, and means actuated by the containers rolling thereover for actuating the adhesive delivery means, means for successively positioning one label at a time in the path of the rolling containers at a distance from the applicator where the adhesive layer on the container will pick up the label and cause it to adhere to the container.

11. In a device of the type described, a platiorm, means for rolling containers over the platform, means positioned in the path of the containers for applying a layer of adhesive and including an applicator,

applicator receiving its adhesive from the reservoir, means for delivering a predetermined quantity of adhesive to the applicator which is sufficient for applying a layer of adhesive to the container, and means actuated by the containers rolling thereover for actuating the adhesive delivery means. means for successively positioning one label at a time in the path of the rolling containers at a distance from the applicator where the adhesive layer on the container will pick up the label and cause it to adhere to the container, said label positioning means being controlled by the container actuated means.

12. In a device of form, means for rolling containers over the platform, means positioned in the path of the containers for applying a layer of adhesive and including an applicator, said adhesive applying means having a reservoir for the adhesive, the applicator receiving its adhesive from the reservoir, means'for delivering a predetermined quantity of adhesive to the applicator which is sufficient for applying a layer of adhesive to the container, and means actuated by the containers rolling thereover for actuating the adhesive de-' livery means, means for successively positioning one label at a time in the path of the rolling containers at a distance from the applicator where the adhesive layer on the container will pick up the label and cause it to adhere to the container, and a separate container actuated means for actuating said label positioning means each time a container moves from the applicator to the label positioning means.

13. In a device of the type described; a platform; means for rolling containers over the platform; means positioned in the path of the containers for applying a layer of adhesive thereto and including an applicator having a discharge opening therein of the shapeand size of the label to be applied and a screen mounted across the discharge opening; said adhesive applying means said adhesive applying means having a reservoir for the adhesive, the

the type described, a plat-' vcontaining cylinder and positioned to deliver labels to the adhesive layers'on the containers; a piston disposed in the magazine to eject labels therefrom; a guided cross-head connected to these pistons to actuate the latter for ejecting adhesive and labels, respectively; and means for actuating the cross-head.

15. In a machine for applying labels to con- I tainers; a platform; means for rolling containers over the platform; an adhesive containing cylinder .having a discharge opening therein positioned in the path of the containers, a piston mounted in said cylinder for ejecting adhesive from the latter against the containers when the piston is actuated; a label-holding magazine mounted in parallel relation with the adhesivecontaining cylinder and positioned to deliver labels to the adhesive layers on the containers; a piston disposed in the magazine to eject labels therefrom; a guided cross-head connected to these pistons to actuate the latter for ejecting adhesive and labels, respectively; a reciprocablymounted actuating rod having a top bar normally projecting above the platform and lying in the path of the containers so as to be depressed by I the latter; in rolling thereover; and means operhaving a reservoir for the adhesive arranged below the screen; means for forcing a predeterminedquantity of adhesive from the reservoir through the screen which is sufficient for applying a layer of adhesive to the container; and

atively connecting theactuating rod to the crosshead to stepwise advance the latter when the top bar is depressed.

THOMAS L. COOK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 

